Divorce and Separation
Recent changes in law have made applying for a divorce more straightforward and less acrimonious as the ‘no-fault’ divorce system means that all that needs to be stated is that the marriage has broken down irretrievably and it is no longer necessary to provide a reason for the breakdown. If you are considering a divorce or the dissolution of a civil partnership and would like to speak to someone about the process or need advice on dealing with financial or children matters arising from divorce or dissolution, then our family team is here to help.
What does it mean to have the Final Order of Divorce?
Nowadays, as an application for divorce is dealt with using the online service and does not require a reason to be given for the breakdown of the marriage, many couples choose to deal with the divorce application themselves and may not consult a family lawyer at any stage of their divorce. However, what many couples do not realise is that although the final divorce order ends the marriage and extinguishes some of the rights which the parties acquired on marrying (for example the right to access a widow’s pension), the final divorce order does not deal with financial arrangements and so a financial order is required to deal with these issues.
Of course, some arrangements may be agreed between a couple at the time of the divorce, for example if the family home is sold or if savings need to be shared. However, often other potential financial issues, which seem less pressing, are not dealt with. Although it is understandable that a couple may be reluctant to address what they fear may be difficult financial issues, postponing consideration of the finances can cause significant issues in the future. For this reason, it is essential that a financial settlement is considered as soon as possible, as even if the parties simply want to ensure that they have no further financial claims against the other, this agreement must be embodied in a court order to avoid possible future problems.
Our family team is here to help you finalise financial arrangements so you can move forward with certainty.
